Can New Digital Technologies Support Parasitology Teaching and Learning?

Traditionally, parasitology courses have mostly been taught face-to-face on campus, but now digital technologies offer opportunities for teaching and learning. Here, we give a perspective on how new technologies might be used through student-centred teaching approaches. First, a snapshot of recent trends in the higher education is provided; then, a brief account is given of how digital technologies [e.g., massive open online courses (MOOCs), flipped classroom (FC), games, quizzes, dedicated Facebook, and digital badges] might promote parasitology teaching and learning in digital learning environments. In our opinion, some of these digital technologies might be useful for competency-based, self-regulated, learner-centred teaching and learning in an online or blended teaching environment.

TrendsParticipation rates in the higher education sector are higher than ever.The demands for improved access by students to learning materials, the development of life-long learning toolkits, and flexible study options for students are increasing.Digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to respond to some of the challenges posed by these trends in the higher education sector.Digital technologies, including MOOCs, FCs, gamification, social networking sites, digital badges, and learning analytics, are some of the recent innovations that could revolutionise the teaching and learning of parasitology in the digital world.